Old Test Equipment. Octopus Growler (motor armature tester).

[frapple]

This is not strictly radio but its old never the less!

I have recently aquired an Octopus Electrical Test Bench and Octopus Growler made by the Armature Manufacturing Co in Oldham.

Despite a good deal of searching online etc... I cannot find much info on these bits of kit apart from some photos.

Does anyone know of anywhere or anyone that might have a manual or set of manuals for these pieces of equipment?

Many thanks in advance.

[HECTOR63]

https://www.themagnetoguys.co.uk/tes...%20with%20ease.

Found this on google if its any help

[frapple]

Hi,

Thanks for the link.

They do have an Octopus but unfortunately they don't have any documentation of their own either :-(

[Radio Wrangler]

The general ruling is that radio/audio gear for a car is OK, but the vehicle electrics are best left to other fora. Test equipment is allowed, though so I've reopened the thread. (I'd closed it earlier in error, sorry)

Congratulations on an absolutely brilliant find. These are superb pieces of equipment. I last saw one at Desmond Haigh's at the junction of Thistle Street and St Andrew's road in Huddersfield. the place seems to be in new hands but still in the same business. I wonder if they still have it?

David

[MotorBikeLes]

Since we can talk auto test gear, I must say the stuff linked to by Hector is of great interest to me. I was given a Lucas motorcycle Electrical test box, 10 years ago, but unfortunately the ravages of time had effectively killed all the test meters.I decided a couple of years ago to build my own test set. It allows me to test a dynamo, adjust the voltage control unit whilst (certain models) to checking contact breakers and ignition coil etc.
But that Octopus unit knocks my stuff into the proverbial cocked hat.
And the Growler.
I have also built a tester for M/C alternator "Rectifier regulators". Most instructive.
Les.

[frapple]

Hi David,

Thank you for allowing the post.

It appears that not only is the Octopus electrical test gear physically rare, it is also, apart from a few photos, almost non existent online!

Thanks for the pointer ND Haigh do have a website so I'll give them a call, one never knows...

Alessio

[The Philpott]

- Well these units appear to have been saved from a steampunk/mancave scenario where they would sit and do nothing apart from look steampunky. Superb.

I have an Avometer Special that appears to have been one of a small batch made for Joe Lucas. The difference is the scale is 150/600 rather than 120/480. The higher numbers are inked in red. The movement is thus 7.5mA FSD rather than 6mA, though it could just be a standard movement with extra external resistance.

Dave

[pmmunro]

Dave,

That Lucas Special sounds like AM Type 'D' variant.

PMM

[Dennis M]

I have an Octupus test bench, and most of the manual which contains the growler instructions.

[Dennis M]

Some more unusual test kit.
Wilkinson meter set and condenser tester.

[MotorBikeLes]

Denis, Wilkinson test set. That is the one I was given. All meters BER, but I saved the internal droppers and a few other bits.
Les.
(p.s., not forgotten Maglita, busy.)

[Dennis M]

The Octopus has an interlock relay in it to prevent the motor running without the batteries connected.

[frapple]

Hi Dennis,

Thank you very much for the manual, that has helped enormously especially as it has a schematic!

This almost ended up as scrap as the chap didn't get much interest in it!

Those Wilkson test meters look excellent - unusual to see a yellow meter they are allways black!

[frapple]

I do also have vintage radios, which I should post about!